Description of three new species of Scolanthus (Cnidaria, Anthozoa, Actiniaria, Edwardsiidae): first records of the genus from JapanAuthorIzumi, TakatoAuthorFujita, ToshihikotextZooKeys2018794121http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.794.25243journal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.794.252431313-2970-794-1348B2A5562C34601AA890751CF7D455E348B2A5562C34601AA890751CF7D455EScolanthus Gosse, 1853Diagnosis.Edwardsiidae
with body divisible into scapus and capitulum. Proximal part of body rounded, provided with nemathybomes and never forming physa. Nemathybomes scattered or forming longitudinal lines on scapus. At least eight microcnemes. Tentacle typically 16 to 20 in adults, arranged hexamerously, octomerously or decamerously. Tentacles on inner cycle shorter than those on outer cycle. Retractor muscles relatively large, well developed, and diffused, restricted or circumscribed. Parietal muscles distinct, symmetrical, well developed. Cnidome; spirocysts, basitrichs, microbasic b- and p-mastigophores (revised from
Daly and Ljubenkov 2008
).
Type species.Scolanthus callimorphus
Gosse, 1853 by monotypy.
Origin of Japanese name.
New Japanese name: Ashinashi-mushimodoki-ginchaku-zoku. This new Japanese name is constructed from
"ashi-nashi"
(which means no-foot) and
"mushimodoki-ginchaku"
(which means worm-like, the Japanese name for edwardsiids).
"Ashi-nashi"
is named after the most characteristic feature of this genus; no differentiated physa from scapus.
Remarks.
The genus
Scolanthus
currently contains seven valid species (
Fautin 2013
) not including new species in the current study, and there also are two more species once accommodated within
Isoedwardsia
, which was synonymized to
Scolanthus
in
Manuel (1981)
. This genus is widely distributed, from tropical (
S. armatus
[Carlgren, 1931]) to subarctic regions (
S. nidarosiensis
[Carlgren, 1942]). No
Scolanthus
species, however, have previously been collected from Japan. In this study,
Scolanthus armatus
and three new species of
Scolanthus
are reported from Japan, representing the first records of this genus from Japan. Consequently, the number of
Scolanthus
species is now 12.